Change of tack for Gdańsk shipyard
The Gdańsk shipyards, made famous by Lech Wałęsa's defiant stand that broke the back of communism, are set to become Eastern Europe's answer to the London Docklands.
Following financial collapse, the once great powerhouse of nautical engineering has been reduced to a shadow of its former self and now stands largely derelict on the edge of the Baltic resort.
But all this is set to change after city officials approved a plan, dubbed 'Young Gdańsk,' that will see the acres of industrial wasteland turned into a slick downtown development of offices, malls, hotels and high-class apartments for up to 12,000.
The $1.5 billion venture is the brainchild of the president of Synergia 99, Janusz Lipinski, who hopes to create 15,000 jobs. "This commercialization of a former industrial area, a waterfront site, can be compared to London's Docklands development, the Haffenstadt in Hamburg or Aker Brygge in Norway.
"The site is world famous. Everybody knows about Solidarity, Lech Wałęsa and the struggle that occurred here."
The area currently houses a museum and part of it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the birthplace of Poland's trade unionism is still battling to come to terms with the free market that followed the downfall of capitalism in 1989.
The shipyard now operates on a fraction of its original site after its was declared bankrupt and taken over by the rival Gdynia ship builder. With unemployment approaching 13 percent, the jobs boost will be particularly welcome.
It has also gained the support of the yard's most famous son. "It is symbolic that in this place, where our freedom came into being, a new, vibrant city will be born. In this era of technology, we need such symbols," says former President Wałęsa.
Lipinski hopes with the backing of local politicians Little Gdańsk may win funding from the European Union.
"This is a very exciting period for us because now that the plan has been approved we are being approached by developers, and developers who we spoke to in the past are coming back to us."
He says work is expected to begin in 2006: "We will publish the land division in the New Year and begin selecting retail developers in the first half of the year and even close these deals by the end of next year.
"We hope that the first phase of the infrastructure would be finished in 2008 to coincide with the opening of the first developments." (Reuters)
Following financial collapse, the once great powerhouse of nautical engineering has been reduced to a shadow of its former self and now stands largely derelict on the edge of the Baltic resort.
But all this is set to change after city officials approved a plan, dubbed 'Young Gdańsk,' that will see the acres of industrial wasteland turned into a slick downtown development of offices, malls, hotels and high-class apartments for up to 12,000.
The $1.5 billion venture is the brainchild of the president of Synergia 99, Janusz Lipinski, who hopes to create 15,000 jobs. "This commercialization of a former industrial area, a waterfront site, can be compared to London's Docklands development, the Haffenstadt in Hamburg or Aker Brygge in Norway.
"The site is world famous. Everybody knows about Solidarity, Lech Wałęsa and the struggle that occurred here."
The area currently houses a museum and part of it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the birthplace of Poland's trade unionism is still battling to come to terms with the free market that followed the downfall of capitalism in 1989.
The shipyard now operates on a fraction of its original site after its was declared bankrupt and taken over by the rival Gdynia ship builder. With unemployment approaching 13 percent, the jobs boost will be particularly welcome.
It has also gained the support of the yard's most famous son. "It is symbolic that in this place, where our freedom came into being, a new, vibrant city will be born. In this era of technology, we need such symbols," says former President Wałęsa.
Lipinski hopes with the backing of local politicians Little Gdańsk may win funding from the European Union.
"This is a very exciting period for us because now that the plan has been approved we are being approached by developers, and developers who we spoke to in the past are coming back to us."
He says work is expected to begin in 2006: "We will publish the land division in the New Year and begin selecting retail developers in the first half of the year and even close these deals by the end of next year.
"We hope that the first phase of the infrastructure would be finished in 2008 to coincide with the opening of the first developments." (Reuters)
